Been looking at a leaf collecting trailer to replace my bagger, it's okay but I have to empty the bags 20 times, and it's pretty slow going. What's your leaf vac trailer, pros and cons, and advice?
Thanks
Thanks
Leaf vac trailer buying advice?
bandit86
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I've been using my DR Power lawn and leaf vac for about 19 years. It always starts with one pull and has plenty of suction. The impeller is guaranteed for life, and I have replaced it once so far. The newer leaf boxes have changed over the years and some of the vacs have a strut to help tilt and raise the trailer. There are several models, and all are somewhat pricey, but from my experience I would recommend DR.
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I’ve got the Commercial Pro 285 gal Cyclone Rake for exactly the same reason you spoke of. They are a game changer in time. I helped my friend who has an XL Cyclone Rake and he loved it. I used it to help after he had his shoulder replaced and was convinced by the results. I found mine, only about a year old, on Craigslist. Used it on my Scotts first, but like it even better on my X738 (see signature below). I liked it well enough I bought a second one for my son so I didn’t have to keep going to his house to help him and his mother-in-law’s next door. Funny, but I still take it to do his 94 yr old neighbor across from his mother-in-law’s. I’ve also done a soccer field and around the local Christian school. I don’t have anything bad to say about it. The videos you see online are the real deal. If you contact them, they will try to connect you with a customer near you so you can see one in action first hand. They are one of the best engineered products I’ve ever seen.
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I have a AgriFab tow behind leaf vac. Its been stone reliable. I did need to replace the impeller a year or so ago, but its because it sucked up a big rock. Other then that, and some replacement hoses, thats it. Pros... Its big, and holds a ton! Sucks up ANYTHING! Cons... its big! Increases your turning room needed. Its loud. It tilts... but it doesnt really empty. I use a hoe to pull the leaves out.
I have 2 Agri-Fab Vacs. One with a dedicated 12 hp 42" deck Cub Cadet. Another with a 12' remote hose. I've found it much easier to blow leaves in a pile or make windrows then vac up with the remote hose. No plugging of the boot with twigs, especially from Walnut trees. I vac up a couple neighbor's leaves, another comes and borrows it pulling with his lawn tractor.
I use them for mulch around plants in the garden when plants get 8"-12" tall. No more weeding after that for the rest of the summer. Plus, has been a lifesaver this summer with the drought. By spring they will be rotted down into nearly compost, plows down nice and makes for organic matter in the garden. A win-win for me.
I use them for mulch around plants in the garden when plants get 8"-12" tall. No more weeding after that for the rest of the summer. Plus, has been a lifesaver this summer with the drought. By spring they will be rotted down into nearly compost, plows down nice and makes for organic matter in the garden. A win-win for me.
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Advice-
They can get pretty heavy as they fill up. They bounce around, allowing the load to compact and settle as you mow. If your yard is flat, no big deal. If you have hills, you better have a pretty stout tractor.
Mulching or cutting and discharging the leaves prior to collecting them can save a lot of trips to the dump pile, especially when using a standard bagger. With a tow behind collection system, it may make the hopper too heavy even before filling it up completely.
They can get pretty heavy as they fill up. They bounce around, allowing the load to compact and settle as you mow. If your yard is flat, no big deal. If you have hills, you better have a pretty stout tractor.
Mulching or cutting and discharging the leaves prior to collecting them can save a lot of trips to the dump pile, especially when using a standard bagger. With a tow behind collection system, it may make the hopper too heavy even before filling it up completely.
I bought my Cyclone Rake Commander model before I moved to the country. Used on an acre lot surrounded by trees. I used it all summer and it left my lawn in perfect shape and I believe it helped limit weed growth. Very limited storage space in garage so the fold up bin could be hung on a way out of the way. Now on 10 acres and mowing 5 of it on hills I use it for fall clean up. Plenty of leaf work weekly and it just keeps going. Build and materials quality is excellent. Just reattached it to the X 500 this past week, ready for leaves.
I use a 48" deck and Gator 6 blades. Chops up debris to allow real good loading of the bin so empty trips are fewer, but heavy if its wet out. Clogging of this machine is very rare. And I don't baby it at all. Oak and Birch twigs, acorns, you name it. All goes up the chute no problem. 8th year since new and it is in very good shape. Replaced 2 of the hose latches, and a couple of support bar screws but that is nothing in the scheme of things. Engine is powerful, starts every time and the suction is superior. Sometimes at the peak dropping days, I use the ZT to form the leaves into a huge pile. Its satisfying just to lay the hose at the base of the pile and use the hand rake to feed the intake. It all just disappears up the chute in a minute or so.
Cyclone Rake - HIGHLY recommended.
I use a 48" deck and Gator 6 blades. Chops up debris to allow real good loading of the bin so empty trips are fewer, but heavy if its wet out. Clogging of this machine is very rare. And I don't baby it at all. Oak and Birch twigs, acorns, you name it. All goes up the chute no problem. 8th year since new and it is in very good shape. Replaced 2 of the hose latches, and a couple of support bar screws but that is nothing in the scheme of things. Engine is powerful, starts every time and the suction is superior. Sometimes at the peak dropping days, I use the ZT to form the leaves into a huge pile. Its satisfying just to lay the hose at the base of the pile and use the hand rake to feed the intake. It all just disappears up the chute in a minute or so.
Cyclone Rake - HIGHLY recommended.
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I have suggested the Cyclone Rake to 6 friends locally here in Ohio, and I won't bash another as I don't have experience with the other brands, but I wouldn't hesitate one Minute from buying a "CYCLONE RAKE", again, if I needed it as mine is 17 yrs old, and going strong, as being well maintained and second to none. IMHO!!!
ETU
ETU
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1,590 Posts
Can't beat a cyclone rake.
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I’m a DR Power guy, have been for years. My vac has been flawless for a number of years.
![Image]()
It holds an insane amount of leaves.
It holds an insane amount of leaves.
Reading many recommendations on this and a dozen other similar MTF posts from the past, one thing seems clear, that a powered vac system is the way to go on yard clean ups. Secondarily, there is the choice depending upon storage space for such equipment. Fold or not fold, trailer or fixed with caster wheels etc. No matter the brand, these all seem to have exceptional vac power and digest just about anything that will get through the mower discharge chute. I doubt that any of the major vacs would be a mistake. They just work and save tons of time and effort. Just go get one and make your yard clean up A LOT EASIER! One thing is for sure, you will wish you had done so years ago.
Well I've done something similar, I took the bags off my bagger on my zero turn, and directed The chute into my lawn trailer, it works pretty decent but because we get 6 in of grass it gets low in spots, it works well enough on the acre that doesn't grow as quick. It is for the reason I'm contemplating a gas-powered blower
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I've done something similar - You can get similar results, but similar falls apart when you have wet leaves, lots of fresh green grass, and several other conditions that stretch the capability.
a powered vac system is the way to go on yard clean ups - By powered, he means a system that has a gas or driveshaft powered impeller that increases the aitflow which picks up even the worst debris.
I know systems that have a single hitch point like the DR or Agrifab do work, but the Cyclone Rake dual hitch keeps the airflow path consistent which keeps the inside of the path at its smoothest which makes it more efficient resulting in the least clogs.
I've got a multi acre lawn on the top of a hill in the middle of a woods of tall trees. It seems the leaves blow onto my lawn from every direction. I got a great deal on a very lightly used Trac=Vac and have been running it for about 2 decades. It is an awesome tool for the October to mid December leaf season. And a royal storage pain for the rest of the year.
![Image]()
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Jere,
Perhaps a pain to store, but there isn’t any way you would try to do what you do with the Trac-Vac any other way. Just as seen in your picture, it does a great job of cleaning up your lawn each Fall. I helped an elderly friend, double amputee, clear his acres of lawn and was immediately impressed at how well it worked chewing leaves into tiny pieces and how it made it possible for an elderly, near 90 amputee to care for his place.
RT3360, You make a valid point about the wet leaves or stuff like Poplar twigs, or Black Locust leaf stalks, and Ash leaf stalks, those are very hard to pick up but the CR gets them all.
I've been out in rain trying to finish up on leaf collection with water trickling out the back of the CR's bin and very little problem with sucking up everything.
Once the season starts I leave the CR bin on the tractor and park the whole thing in the barn. The UTV that normally has the barn's parking spot, lives under our 2nd story deck during the fall months.
I still say powered leaf collection is at a whole new level, be it Cyclone Rake or Trac-Vac style. Either way, a gas engine powered collection system is miles ahead of anything else.
I've been out in rain trying to finish up on leaf collection with water trickling out the back of the CR's bin and very little problem with sucking up everything.
Once the season starts I leave the CR bin on the tractor and park the whole thing in the barn. The UTV that normally has the barn's parking spot, lives under our 2nd story deck during the fall months.
I still say powered leaf collection is at a whole new level, be it Cyclone Rake or Trac-Vac style. Either way, a gas engine powered collection system is miles ahead of anything else.
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Only thing I’ve ever considered was one of the metal hopper, dump from the seat, MCS units Deere has available. They require the PowerFlow deck unit though that is driven from the deck pulley. I just don’t have any first hand knowledge about them though. I’ve figured since the Cyclone Rake works so well why mess with success.
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